The man who stole a Kentucky State Police cruiser in Cub Run — after being found passed out in a stolen truck in the middle of the roadway — and later crashed the cruiser on Hwy 259 south just outside the Leitchfield city limits, has been indicted by the Grayson County Grand Jury.
Dakota W. Wheat, 24, of Munfordville, was indicted on two counts of wanton endangerment of a police officer, wanton endangerment, two counts of criminal mischief, fleeing or evading police (in a motor vehicle and on foot), impersonating a peace officer, and DUI.
Wheat’s saga began on the morning of January 24, 2018 when Kentucky State Police Trooper Jonathan McChesney was dispatched to a call on Robbin Lane, in Cub Run. The caller told dispatchers that a man was passed out in a 2005 Ford Expedition in the middle of the road.
McChesney responded to the call from Horse Cave, and upon arriving found Wheat “slumped over the steering wheel,” of the Ford in the middle of the road. It’s estimated the vehicle was stationary in the roadway for 90 minutes, according to Wheat’s arrest citation.
At this point, McChesney said he “knocked on the window two or three time loudly, but the driver wouldn’t respond.” The Trooper then opened the door and found the vehicle was in drive, but had “stalled out on the slight hill crest.”
When McChesney woke up Wheat, “he was unable to give any explanation about the vehicle, the owner, where he got it, or how he got to this location,” the Trooper said.
Wheat then told McChesney that he had been fighting with her girlfriend that his grandfather had recently died, “and all he has been doing is drinking.” While the Trooper said he did not detect an odor of alcohol on Wheat, he did say, “It was obvious that Wheat was crashing from suspected drug use. A visual inspection of his arms showed track marks,” and Wheat also displayed “slurred speech and disorientation.”
According to the report, Wheat admitted to McChesney that he had previously used heroin, but was “positive he hasn’t recently used” the drug.
McChesney then checked the status of the Expedition Wheat was occupying, and discovered it had been stolen from Munfordville.
Wheat was arrested, cuffed behind his back, and placed in the back of McChesney’s cruiser. The Trooper left the immediate area to complete paperwork when Wheat exited the back of the cruiser — cuffed hands now in front of his body – and entered the front seat, and fled the area at a high rate of speed toward Grayson County.
McChesney immediately notified KSP Post 4 of the situation, with Trooper Jared Clemons one of the many KSP units responding to the area.
In his uniform arrest citation, Clemons said the Ford was traveling west on Hwy 88 (Peonia Road), so Clemons “started traveling toward Hwy 259 south, when Officer (Rick) Clemons of (the) Clarkson Police Department advised me the vehicle turned left in Peonia and was now heading toward Leitchfield.”
Trooper Clemons then made his way to one mile south of Leitchfield on Hwy 259, and prepared to set up spike strips. The Trooper then saw the Ford traveling north on Hwy 259 “at what I estimated to be over 100 mph,” Jared Clemons said. He then pulled the spike strips across the roadway, causing Wheat to run over them.
Sitting only feet from where Wheat struck the strips were Trooper Clemons and Grayson County Sheriff Norman Chaffins, who was in his cruiser in the southbound lane of Hwy 259.
The Ford continued north, despite running over the spike strips, but Wheat rear-ended a pickup truck being driven by David Kerr, just before entering Leitchfield city limits.
After the Expedition struck the truck, Trooper Clemons said, “Wheat exited the vehicle and ran approximately 100 yards in the direction of Commerce Drive before he was apprehended by Officer (D.J.) Newton and Officer (Joe) Overton of the Leitchfield PD.”
After being non-compliant, Wheat was taken into custody and according to Trooper Clemons, told police that “after he took the cruiser he ‘never got under a 100,’ and at one point was traveling 140 mph.” Wheat additionally told authorities that “he would test positive for methamphetamine, marijuana and Klonopin,” Trooper Clemons said.
Trooper Clemons then asked Wheat why he stole the cruiser, with the suspect replying that “he wanted to see his kids and smoke a cigarette.”
Wheat remains in the Grayson County Detention Center on a $25,000 cash bond.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
